A Roman grave containing a lead coffin and more than 250 Roman coins has been discovered in a field.
The artefacts - which are believed to date to around 400 AD - were found near Ilminster, Somerset, by a member of the Detecting for Veterans group.
There are about 200 similar lead coffins finds in the country but only six have previously been discovered in Somerset.
Rare 1,600-year-old Roman grave containing a 'fancy' lead coffin and more than 250 coins is discovered in a field in Somerset
The artefacts found in Somerset are believed to date to around AD400
The site will be subject to further archaeological investigations in the new year
Experts say lead was a 'fancy and expensive' way of being buried in Roman times
The coins are currently with the British Museum for cleaning and valuation
By Phoebe Weston For Mailonline
21 December 2017
A Roman grave containing a lead coffin and more than 250 Roman coins has been discovered in a field.
The artefacts - which are believed to date to around 400 AD - were found near Ilminster, Somerset, by a member of the Detecting for Veterans group.
There are about 200 similar lead coffins finds in the country but only six have previously been discovered in Somerset.
A Roman grave containing a lead coffin and more than 250 Roman coins (pictured) has been discovered in a field. The artefacts are believed to date to around 400 AD
The site will be subject to further archaeological investigations in the new year and the coins are currently with the British Museum for cleaning and valuation.
Laura Burnett, the Somerset finds liaison officer, said lead was a 'fancy and expensive' way of being buried in Roman times.
'They're probably using locally produced lead from the Mendips - so it might have been a bit cheaper here than in other parts of the county - but it's an expensive thing to be buried in.'
Kevin Minto, from Detecting for Veterans - a group for ex-services personnel - initially discovered the coins.
He then found the grave when he returned to the site with the county archaeologist, Bob Croft.
Mr Minto said he originally found two coins and then a number of others close by.
'That was when I realised we had a hoard,' he said.
'Obviously it's an important find, the archaeologists are chuffed to nuts and they'll do whatever they have to,' he added.
Laura Burnett, the Somerset finds liaison officer, said a lead coffin (pictured) was a 'fancy and expensive' way of being buried in Roman times
Kevin Minto (left), from Detecting for Veterans - a group for ex-services personnel - initially discovered the coins. He is pictured here with Jason Massey, who is the founder of that group, and Jason's daughter who is not named
The group returned a few days later with the county archaeologist and discovered a rare lead lined coffin on the same site.
'This is a very special site, a rare discovery of lead coffins,' Mr Croft said.
'Lead ones that we know go from Shepton Mallet to Wiveliscombe, and this central part of Somerset - so this one is an unusual one.'
The site will be subject to further archaeological investigations in the new year and the coins (pictured) are currently with the British Museum for cleaning and valuation
Mr Minto found the grave (pictured) when he returned to the site with the county archaeologist, Bob Croft. Mr Minto said he originally found two coins and then a number of others close by
The artefacts were found near Ilminster, Somerset. There were 37 reported cases of treasure found in Somerset in 2016, the largest for five years
There were 37 reported cases of treasure found in Somerset in 2016, the largest for five years.
The county is in the top 10 local authority areas for treasure according to official figures from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Norfolk topped the list with 130 discoveries in 2016, a figure put down to how rural the area is.
Treasure is easier to find in areas with a lot of farming, as soil gets turned by ploughs which brings new finds to the surface.
The artefacts - which are believed to date to around 400 AD - were found near Ilminster, Somerset, by a member of the Detecting for Veterans group.
There are about 200 similar lead coffins finds in the country but only six have previously been discovered in Somerset.
Rare 1,600-year-old Roman grave containing a 'fancy' lead coffin and more than 250 coins is discovered in a field in Somerset
The artefacts found in Somerset are believed to date to around AD400
The site will be subject to further archaeological investigations in the new year
Experts say lead was a 'fancy and expensive' way of being buried in Roman times
The coins are currently with the British Museum for cleaning and valuation
By Phoebe Weston For Mailonline
21 December 2017
A Roman grave containing a lead coffin and more than 250 Roman coins has been discovered in a field.
The artefacts - which are believed to date to around 400 AD - were found near Ilminster, Somerset, by a member of the Detecting for Veterans group.
There are about 200 similar lead coffins finds in the country but only six have previously been discovered in Somerset.
A Roman grave containing a lead coffin and more than 250 Roman coins (pictured) has been discovered in a field. The artefacts are believed to date to around 400 AD
The site will be subject to further archaeological investigations in the new year and the coins are currently with the British Museum for cleaning and valuation.
Laura Burnett, the Somerset finds liaison officer, said lead was a 'fancy and expensive' way of being buried in Roman times.
'They're probably using locally produced lead from the Mendips - so it might have been a bit cheaper here than in other parts of the county - but it's an expensive thing to be buried in.'
Kevin Minto, from Detecting for Veterans - a group for ex-services personnel - initially discovered the coins.
He then found the grave when he returned to the site with the county archaeologist, Bob Croft.
Mr Minto said he originally found two coins and then a number of others close by.
'That was when I realised we had a hoard,' he said.
'Obviously it's an important find, the archaeologists are chuffed to nuts and they'll do whatever they have to,' he added.
Laura Burnett, the Somerset finds liaison officer, said a lead coffin (pictured) was a 'fancy and expensive' way of being buried in Roman times
Kevin Minto (left), from Detecting for Veterans - a group for ex-services personnel - initially discovered the coins. He is pictured here with Jason Massey, who is the founder of that group, and Jason's daughter who is not named
The group returned a few days later with the county archaeologist and discovered a rare lead lined coffin on the same site.
'This is a very special site, a rare discovery of lead coffins,' Mr Croft said.
'Lead ones that we know go from Shepton Mallet to Wiveliscombe, and this central part of Somerset - so this one is an unusual one.'
The site will be subject to further archaeological investigations in the new year and the coins (pictured) are currently with the British Museum for cleaning and valuation
Mr Minto found the grave (pictured) when he returned to the site with the county archaeologist, Bob Croft. Mr Minto said he originally found two coins and then a number of others close by
The artefacts were found near Ilminster, Somerset. There were 37 reported cases of treasure found in Somerset in 2016, the largest for five years
There were 37 reported cases of treasure found in Somerset in 2016, the largest for five years.
The county is in the top 10 local authority areas for treasure according to official figures from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Norfolk topped the list with 130 discoveries in 2016, a figure put down to how rural the area is.
Treasure is easier to find in areas with a lot of farming, as soil gets turned by ploughs which brings new finds to the surface.